"Death (left) poises his javelin, about to strike an old man in bed, reading a book by the light of a candle held in his left hand. The room is heaped with his treasures (armour, &c.). Rats scamper, chased by a cat."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from description of a later state in the British Museum catalogue; the assigned title for each plate from The English dance of death is the heading to the opposite printed page., Early (proof?) state, before aquatint added. For a later state, see no. 12412 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 9., Publisher and date of publication from imprint on later state: London, Pub. 1 April 1814, at R. Ackermann's, 101 Strand., Sheet trimmed within plate mark, with possible loss of text below image., Later state issued in: Combe, W. The English dance of death. London : Published at R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts ..., 1815-1816., This record is derived from historic data and may not reflect our current information. Review and updating of records is ongoing., Cf. Grego, J. Rowlandson the caricaturist, v. 2, page 320., Temporary local Medical Library subject terms: Skeleton as Death., and Ink verse notation on verso, perhaps in Rowlandson's hand; additional pencil notation on verso.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
Combe, William, 1742-1823.
Subject (Topic):
Death (Personification), Wills, Skeletons, Spears, Beds, Sleeping, Cats, Rats, Armor, Musical instruments, Books, Candles, Artists' materials, Urns, and Sculpture